Water-gun



(No Model.)

J. L. SHAW.

WATER GUN.

No. 334.475. Patented Jan. 19, 1886.

W/T/VESSES CII lNrrnn STATES JOHN L. SHAW, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

WATERsGUN.

EPBCIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 334,475, dated January 19, 1886.

Application filed July 29,1885. Serial No. 172,990. (No model.)

.T all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN L. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Guns; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side View. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line X X of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line Y Y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is same with tube removed. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of cap J.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My invention relates to improvements in waterguns, wherein the friction upon the sides of the barrel is overcome by means of a re-euforcing device, as hereinafter shown and described. The object in view is by lessening or overcoming the friction to deliver the ball from the gun-tube withoutloss of power, thereby enabling me to throw a ball or other projectile with force and precision. I accomplish this by inserting a tube or barrel, of even diameter throughout its length, within a hosepipe constructed in the ordinary manner, said tube fitting the nozzle closely, but leaving a water space or re enforcing chamber surrounding itself from the nozzle backward. At intervals of about six inches I pierce said -tube with a succession of small holes, entering the same at an angle of about forty-five degrees forward slant. There being two or more holes in a series on opposite sides, said holes should be sufficiently large and numerous to re-enforce the main stream when same is checked, but not of capacity of themselves to supply a full stream were the main entrance to central tube closed. It will be seen that the Water upon the outer side of the tubing being confined at the end will exert a constant pressure through said holes, and the column of water passing through the tube will be constantly re-enforced as the holes are passed, so that when used in connection with a magazine-chamber for throwing any solid projectile, as the ball drops from the magazine into the tube or barrel the flow through the holes in front of same will bev for a moment accelerated, sustaining, and as the ball passes, pushing or re-enl'orcing the main current, causing the ball to leave the nozzle under the fullest momentum possible to be gained from the power back of it-to wit, at the full velocity of the current.

I describe my invention speciiically as follows: Referring to the drawings, H is the pipe having the ribs T T upon the inside, extending its full length, and the gun-tube K, supported by said ribs and projecting beyond said pipe to receive the nozzle, said tube having the re-enforcingholes P l?, and being of even diameter throughout, and extending beyond the pipe sufficiently to receive the nozzle N, which tits closely thereon, screwing into said pipe in the ordinary manner. Said tube projects far enough beyond the nozzle that the cap J may be placed upon the end thereof. (See Fig. l.) Upon the top of said pipe H is the magazine-barrel F, having the cap G on its outer end, and adapted to receive the balls c c and the spiral spring A, the use of said spring being to force the balls to the rear of said magazine-chamber, which is there connected with the tube K` through the upright tube K', the balls being prevented from falling down the latter by the lug Q, actuated by the spring R, covered by the cap E. There may also be a stop-cock here (not shown in drawings) to allow the recharging of magazine while the Water is flowing. At the base of said magazine F is the plunger B, held by the stuffing-box sleeve D, screwed into the top of the upright tube K. The plunger is thrown up after repression by the spiral spring C. (The latter may, however, be omitted.) The use of said plunger is to drive the balls c c past the spring-lug Q into the tube K. The teat e, within the tu be K, is to prevent the balls c c from slipping backward should they be dropped therein when the water is not under pressure. The cap J, fitting upon the outer end of tube K, is provided with the blade O, presenting its knife edge to the water, and in- IOO tended to intercept and hold the ball c as it is shot from the tube. Said cap J is also provided with the side springs, II, which, as the cap is thrown from the tube, spring in sufficiently to retain the ball. rlhe bail L on said cap is intended to carry a life-line, M.

The use of my invention may vbe thus illustrated. Supposing it is desired during a conagration to send a life-line to an upper Window or the top of a building, the pipeman places cap J in position, strikes his hand upon the tube K and as it starts its momentum is reenforced in passing the re-cn forcing-holes P P, and when driven into the cap J it is traveling with the full velocity of the stream, and striking against the blade O, carries the cap with its life-line to the point aimed at. Vithout said cap it may often be of use in breaking in Windows and blinds, otherwiseinaccessible, in order to get at the tire behind them. That part of my invention which I desire to claim in the broadest manner is the re-eniorcing or acceleration ofthe stream and the ball carried in the same in its passage through the tube K, by means of the holes P P, piercing said tube from the surrounding water chamber at an angle of about forty-five degrees forward slant. The ball drops into the tube a dead weight,and the end desired is to send it forth under the fullest velocity ofthe current, and this is accomplished by keepingu p thellow in front by means of said re enforcing holes, which continue to accelerate the ball as it passes them, as hereinbefore described. This re-enforceinent might be had, partially, withoutthe insertion ofthe tube K, using the ribs T to keep the ball in line, but the movement of the Water Would be disturbed, so that it would be apt to spray when discharged; or both tube and ribs might be omitted, but ths would result in the impairment of precision in the course ofthe ball, and in either case there would be a loss of momentum in the ball when discharged, since the water would have free access around the ball, and it would be discharged without acquiring the full velocity of the current.

I am aware of the patent to Chichester, No.

310,382, dated January 6, 1885, in which a barrel or tube is provided at intervals along its length with aseries of collars, forming chambers around the barrel, and having communication with the interior of the latter.

I am also aware of the patent to Hill, No. 315,030, dated April 7, 1885.

My invention differs from the construction shown in these patents,in that I provide a continuous water-chamber to surround the barrel, and having communication With said barrel by means of a series of openings in the barrel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent of the United States, is

1. In a water-gun, the combination, with a central tube, of a continuous Water chamber surrounding said tube, and having a series of openings communicating with the watercham ber, substantially as set forth.

2. In a water-gun, the combination, with a tube having a series of openings piercingit at an angle oi'forty-iive degrees, of a continuous Water-chamber surrounding the tube, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the tube or barrel and the Waterchamber surrounding it and having communication With said tube by means of openings in the latter, cfa magazine arranged above the tube, said magazine being adapted to contain balls, a spring in the niagazine, apipe, K', connecting the tube and magazine,avertically-moving plunger in said pipe, and a spring-actuated lug in the pipe K be low the magazine, as set forth.

4. The combination, with a tube of a continuous Water-chambersurrounding the latter, and having communication with the tube, of a magazine arranged above and communicating With the tube and adapted to contain projectiles, such as balls, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. SHAW.

Witnesses:`

WILLIAM A. CHAPMAN, ADOLPH B. MASON. 

